Plastic washed ashore at Ghajn Tuffieha Bay was cleaned up this morning, the government said in a statement,

The detrimental effect of plastics on our environment and health is becoming more of a concern to us all, the statement said. This has become more evident as reports on social media showed large amounts of plastic fragments and other litter brought to shore during the rough seas of the past days at Għajn Tuffieħa.

“We need to face reality and adopt a more circular economy approach while changing our mentality and norms,” stated Minister José Herrera as the Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change immediately coordinated efforts with the Environment and Resources Authority, Ambjent Malta and NGO No to Plastics to remove the plastic debris that littered the beach at Għajn Tuffieħa. This clean up took place Saturday morning, just a few hours after it was reported on social media.

The beach is considered an environmentally sensitive area and is also a Natura 2000 site, requiring for the clean up to be carried out by hand. ERA has issued an emergency permit to cover these works.

The public is being urged to report such findings to the appropriate authorities for action.

The Malta Independent report on the plastic items can be seen here